The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has retired the AASHTOWare Expedite Bid software with the December 7, 2018 letting.  Bidding files for the January 25, 2019 letting will only work with the Project Bids software.  While there is a name change and a slightly different look for the application that is used to submit bids, the Project Bids application is very close in how it works and functions to the existing Expedite Bid software.

Please cliick on the link below to see a document comparing the existing Expedite software to Project Bids.

Comparison between Expedite and Project Bids

(Added 12/17/2018)

Notice to Contractors AASHTOWare Project Bids Digital ID - (for Bid Express users)

Updated Bid Authorization (page 13) -  (if needed, for Bid Express users)

(Added 12/11/2018)

The next two links below will guide you to the proper instructions for downloading and installing the AASHTOWare Project Bids Bid component, based on whether you use Bid Express to submit your bids.  For those of you that use Bid Express and already have an account with them you may skip to Step 2.

Set up Internet Bidding with the AASHTOWare Project Bids Bid Component  (for Bid Express users)

Download and Install AASHTOWare Project Bids   (for non-Bid Express users)

Sample Project Bids Files -This link will take you to a page that has sample files to practice using Project Bids

Why is ALDOT converting to AASHTOWare Project Bids?

Expedite Bids™ and AASHTOWare Project Bid™ (Project Bids) are licensed by ALDOT from the American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Project Bids is the replacement for Expedite that AASHTO will no longer support as of July 1, 2019.  Many of the other states use AASHTOWare for contractor bidding and have either converted to Project Bids or are in the process of converting.  We will also be providing you with sample projects that you use in practicing biding using the Project Bids software.

The January 25, 2019 letting was selected as the first letting for ALDOT to use Project Bids due to the length of time between the December 7 letting and the advertising period for the January lettings to allow for a transition period that did not have overlapping lettings and minimize confusion between which application to use for which letting. Links and instructions will be provided to the Project Bids software appear above.  There are a couple of additional steps that will be required by those of you that use the Bid Express service, so please start on making the transition before the end of December, so you will be ready for the January letting.

For those of you that use the Bid Express service to submit your bids, you will still be able to continue to use Bid Express to submit your bids to ALDOT. There is a different process that will require a new Digital ID that will be usable with any agency using Bid Express.  If you are a current Digital ID holder, you will be able to obtain the Digital ID that is compatible with Project Bids for no additional cost. Also, as a part of the process, a Bid Express Digital ID holder user will need to submit a request to bid with each individual state (agency) after their Digital ID has been approved.  We established Monday, December 10, 2018 as the beginning date that you can request your Project Bids Digital ID and begin to make your request to bid with Alabama.  Bid Express should have already sent you a reminder e-mail about these changes.  

For those of you who do not use Bid Express, you will download the Project Bids software, and set up your Company’s information as you did in Expedite. You will continue to download your bidding files from the ALDOT letting website, complete your bid, then return your signed bid with a copy of the data file on either a CD or USB drive as you have been doing in the past.

If you have further questions about ALDOT procedures in regard to the conversion from Expedite to Project Bids,  you may e-mail offengr@dot.state.al.us or call 334.242.6441, during regular business hours.

Expedite Bids™ and AASHTOWare Project Bids™ are registered trademarks of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).